European Individual Chess Championship Mar 21st - 3rd Apr

[benedgell]

I understand that as professionals the prize money is the most important aspect of the tournament, and as such the short draw makes sense, but its still a terrible advert for chess that the European Championship was decided by a 12 move draw in one game and a 22 move draw in the other.

[LozCooper]

I understand that as professionals the prize money is the most important aspect of the tournament, and as such the short draw makes sense, but its still a terrible advert for chess that the European Championship was decided by a 12 move draw in one game and a 22 move draw in the other.

Maybe if there had been a rapid/blitz play-off to decide the title it would have provided the excitement that was lacking in those two games. Other than having Sofia rules or big win bonuses there's not too many ways around it.

[Mick Norris]

Please also see Mark Crowther's report on TWIC at http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/e ... idual-2011, citing Macauley Peterson on Chess Vibes at http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/potki ... tie-break/.

My understanding is as indicated in those reports and in the comments up thread here, namely that Potkin and Mamedov had already qualified from last year's European Individual Championship and Svidler by virtue of his rating.

TWIC is now noting a Serbian report that Jakovenko had too qualified by rating, thus putting Ivanisevic in a qualifying place too

Bit of a shambles, wonder who is to blame?

The World Cup is run by FIDE, but they are run by a stellar human being, so can't be their fault

The qualifier is an ECU event, they too are lead by an excellent individual, so can't be their fault

The event was in France, their chess is full of nice fellows, can't be their fault

Conclusion, it must be Sean Hewitt's fault

[LozCooper]

Please also see Mark Crowther's report on TWIC at http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/e ... idual-2011, citing Macauley Peterson on Chess Vibes at http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/potki ... tie-break/.

My understanding is as indicated in those reports and in the comments up thread here, namely that Potkin and Mamedov had already qualified from last year's European Individual Championship and Svidler by virtue of his rating.

TWIC is now noting a Serbian report that Jakovenko had too qualified by rating, thus putting Ivanisevic in a qualifying place too

Bit of a shambles, wonder who is to blame?

The World Cup is run by FIDE, but they are run by a stellar human being, so can't be their fault

The qualifier is an ECU event, they too are lead by an excellent individual, so can't be their fault

The event was in France, their chess is full of nice fellows, can't be their fault

Conclusion, it must be Sean Hewitt's fault

It would be nice to know in advance which players are qualified although sometimes I wonder if the players themselves know

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I can also confirm that 6 GM & 12 IM norms were achieved.

Thanks for that bit of news (and thanks to David as well for pointing to the europe eches report). Will the full list of norms achieved be published at some point, and would any British IMs have considered attempting to get GM norms here? I'm asking because I looked back over the list of recent English GMs, and there wasn't one last year (or in 2004, I think), but one every other year this decade. Was wondering where the next English GM will be coming from.

[Sean Hewitt]

Thanks David. I'll probably arbit a world championship match before I'm even asked to do the British Championships though

Ironically it looks like I'll be arbiting at another country's national championships before I get asked to arbit at the British!

[Mick Norris]

Ironically it looks like I'll be arbiting at another country's national championships before I get asked to arbit at the British!

Where and when?

[Ben Purton]

You should really be a 4NCL arbiter Sean. The arbiter I had for the Cambridge V 'buca game was nothing short of a shock to the system.

Still livid about that. I really wish David or Neville etc had been in room.

Ben

[Sean Hewitt]

You should really be a 4NCL arbiter Sean.
Ben

Might be a bit tricky whilst I'm playing in 4NCL div3!

[Ben Purton]

Like they say in the Adam Sandler films "You can do it"

[Alex Holowczak]

You should really be a 4NCL arbiter Sean. The arbiter I had for the Cambridge V Buca game was nothing short of a shock to the system.

Still livid about that. I really wish David or Neville etc had been in room.

Ben

Ben, you should be more careful of your shortening of Sambuca.

[Ben Purton]

The day you play in division 1........

[LozCooper]

Sam v buca

[Alex Holowczak]

Sam v buca

BUCA's Treasurer is called Sam...

[David Sedgwick]

Thanks David. I'll probably arbit a world championship match before I'm even asked to do the British Championships though

Ironically it looks like I'll be arbiting at another country's national championships before I get asked to arbit at the British!

A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country. (Matthew 13:57)